Phenomenological study of the experiences of emergency department nurses in the referral for and/or administration of a lethality tool in a rural hospital

3^rd International Conference on Forensic Research and Technology

October 06-08, 2014 Hilton San Antonio Airport, USA

Michele I Bracken and Michelle Clifton

ScientificTracks-Abstracts: J Forensic Res

Abstract :

Intimate partner violence is of national concern, resulting in an annual 4.9 million intimate partner physical and sexual assaults occurring in the United States. Due to resulting traumatic injuries, the emergency department is an ideal setting to assess for patients in abusive relationships. Because of this, it is critical that emergency department nurses involved in the screening process have perceptions and attitudes conducive to identification, care, and appropriate referral, to ensure the safety of these patients. Research has shown that nurses are not always effective in screening for intimate partner violence. There is a paucity of research on the attitudes and perceptions of these nurses that may provide a basis for this ineffective screening. The purpose of this research was to determine the attitudes and perceptions of emergency department nurses in a rural mideastern hospital regarding their experiences in referring for and/or administering an instrument that assesses a patient?s risk for being murdered by an abusive partner. Results of 9 interviews determined there were three emerging themes: 1) Worthwhile assessment tool; 2) Barriers Encountered; and 3) Solutions to Barriers.

Biography :

Michele I Bracken, PhD, WHNP is currently an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Salisbury University in Maryland. She has been a Faculty member there since 1998. Her clinical area of expertise is women?s, adult, community and pediatric health. She received her Bachelor?s degree in Nursing and a Master?s in Nursing Administration from Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD. She received her PhD in Nursing from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Her PhD specialty is Intimate Partner Violence. She is also a Board Certified Women?s Health Nurse Practitioner. Her research interests include intimate partner violence awareness and breast cancer awareness.